Surgeon says little-understood eye condition puts drivers at risk of £1,000 fine
Thousands of drivers across the UK could be unknowingly risking fines and invalidating their insurance because of a little-understood eye condition, an eye surgeon has warned. And anyone who has an accident as a result of the issue could even face prosecution.
Diplopia, the medical term for seeing two images of a single object, is not simply a visual nuisance. Under DVLA rules double vision is incompatible with safe driving unless it is fully controlled.
Those who develop the condition are legally required to inform the DVLA which can be done online. Failure to do so can result in a fine of up to £1,000, the invalidation of motor insurance and, in serious cases, prosecution.
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Mr Nadeem Ali, Consultant Squint and Double Vision Surgeon at The London Squint Clinic, said: "Many people assume that if they can manage their symptoms, they can continue driving. But from a regulatory perspective, double vision raises an immediate red flag. If you are seeing two images, your depth perception and spatial awareness are compromised, and that has obvious implications at any speed.”
The DVLA assesses cases individually. In some instances a licence will be revoked temporarily while medical reports are obtained.
If the diplopia is stable and can be completely controlled - with prism lenses in glasses or by occluding one eye - driving may be permitted. However, uncontrolled double vision will usually mean a suspension.
For professional drivers the stakes are even higher. Group 2 licence holders, which includes lorry and bus drivers, face stricter visual standards and a diagnosis can mean an end to their career.
Apart from notifying the DVLA, motorists must also tell their insurance provider of any medical condition that could affect their ability to drive. Failure to do so may allow an insurer to refuse a claim following a collision.
Mr Ali explained: “If someone has an accident and it later emerges they had double vision that wasn’t declared, the financial consequences can be devastating. It could be treated as driving without valid insurance which exposes the individual to personal liability for damages.”
While the legal and financial risks are clear, the condition itself can arrive suddenly and without warning. Double vision may develop in later life as the muscles that control eye alignment gradually weaken.
It can also follow a minor stroke, diabetes-related nerve palsy, thyroid eye disease or head trauma, including injuries sustained in falls or road traffic accidents. Mr Ali said: "In adults, even a small change in eye muscle balance can tip someone into diplopia.
"Patients often describe it as sudden and disorientating. You cannot accurately judge distance and road markings or oncoming vehicles may appear duplicated or blurred.”
The good news is that treatment is often effective. Some cases resolve themselves while prism glasses can realign images for certain patients and modern double vision surgery can restore binocular single vision in persistent cases.
Mr Ali added: "Restoring single vision through surgery is not just about comfort. For many patients it means regaining their independence and, subject to DVLA approval, their ability to drive legally again."
With Britain’s population ageing and more drivers remaining on the road into later life, specialists say awareness is crucial. Sudden double vision is always a reason to seek urgent medical advice.
Figures estimate more than 800,000 people in the UK visit a eye care specialist every year as a result of some form of double vision. However it is the patient’s responsibility to inform the DVLA, not the doctor’s.
According to the government's website you can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA about any medical condition that affects your driving. It adds: "You may be prosecuted if you’re involved in an accident as a result."
What eye conditions must I notify the DVLA of?You must tell DVLA if you have certain eye conditions. These are:
- blepharospasm
- diabetic retinopathy (with laser treatment)
- diplopia (double vision)
- glaucoma
- nyctalopia (night blindness)
- retinitis pigmentosa
You must tell DVLA if any of the following apply:
- your eye condition affects both eyes
- your eye condition affects one eye - but you only have vision in that eye
- you have retinitis pigmentosa that affects one or both eyes
- a GP, optician or eye specialist has said you should not drive
- you do not meet the visual standards for driving
You should meet the standards if you:
- can read a number plate from 20 metres away
- have no double vision
- have a normal field of vision in at least one eye (your optician can test this)